Racing


Eye N Capo Prevails to Win Sam’s Town Stakes at Evangeline
Eye N Capo, under jockey Jesse Levario, defeating Graceful Eagle in the $30,000 Sam’s Town Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

© Coady Photography
Eye N Capo Prevails to Win Sam’s Town Stakes at Evangeline

OPELOUSAS, LAA—DECEMBER 15, 2018—/i>Eye N Capo took advantage of a clean trip in the final stakes of the Saturday night card at Evangeline Downs, the $30,000 Sam’s Town. The post-time favorite chased Ms Leaving You throughout the race to win by a neck.

Final time for the 350-yard race was :17.430; Eye N Capo earned a 101 speed index.

Eye N Capo ($2.80) was ridden by Jesse Levario for trainer Josue Ponce and owner Ruben Garcia Montemayor. He has won nine of his 16 lifetime starts and has shown an affinity for Evangeline, with three wins in five starts, never finishing off the board. His career earnings to date total $465,910.

The winning connections of Eye N Capo accept the Sam’s Town Stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

Last year, Eye N Capo was third in this race behind Jess Bein the Hero and Icanonlyemagine. Since that race, he has competed in five stakes and always placed in the money, including victories in the Sam Houston Classic Stakes (G2) and in the Miss Polly Classic Stakes (G3) at Delta Downs. In his most recent start, he was second by a head in the Refrigerator Handicap (G1) at Lone Star.

Eye N Capo is a 4-year-old gelded son of Capo de Capi, out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Satisfeyen. He was bred in Oklahoma by Dee and Betty Raper.

Graceful Eagle bore the brunt of traffic in the race but was moved up to place second. Luis Vivanco, who is currently second in the rider standings behind John Hamilton for the current meet, had the call. Current meet leading trainer Josue Huitron conditions the 4-year-old filly for owner Florentino Leon.

Bred in Colorado by Thomas Bradbury, Graceful Eagle is a daughter of One Famous Eagle and is out of Duplicate Check, by Corona Cartel. A qualifier to multiple stakes races, Graceful Eagle was second in the 2017 Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs.

The 2018 edition of the Sam’s Town was roughly run, with two separate disqualifications in the 7-horse field. Ms Leaving You finished second but was placed third after drifting out midway in the stretch.

Ms Leaving You is a 4-year-old filly by Coronas Leaving You and out of the Splash Bac mare Ms Pilot Point; she was bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms. She was ridden by Luciano Duenez for trainer Kenneth Weeks and owner McGehee Horse and Cattle, LLC.

Completing the field were Ho Lotta Game, Corona Carmelita, Dm La Jolla and Fdp Rock Solid. One Sweet Merlot, Sixes Flash and Sweet Bru were scratched. There were two disqualifications in the race: Ms Leaving You finished second but was placed third; Dm La Jolla finished third but was placed sixth.